School of Education Faces Restructure
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The Sun Star Vol 70 No 11 (November 8th, 2016) Publisher The Sun Star Download date 03/10/2021 21:52:25 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/11122/7224 Volume LXX, Issue #11 Tuesday, November 8, 2016 THE VOICE OF THE NANOOK, YOUR SOURCE FOR STUDENT NEWS Last minute guide to Fairbanks elections pg. 8 An inside view of Title IX Spencer Tordoff & Kyrie Long Sun Star Resources for complainants During investigation and Though turnaround times have deliberation, there are measures improved for investigations on campus, that can be taken to ensure an the Title IX office has faced limited individual’s comfort, according to resources for addressing cases to date, Dean of Students Laura McCullough. according to the office’s administrator. “We’re trying to limit additional “We did get additional funding,” issues until that investigation is Kevin Calderara, interim Title completed,” said McCullough. “It’s IX coordinator, said. “I wish I not about fairness, it’s about equity.” could hire somebody today...but Complainants may request a all that takes time and training.” schedule change, withdraw from Two positions have since been a class or receive an incomplete opened for the office, and are currently grade until they feel safe returning accepting applications. Though to class. Employers may be Calderara says that most reports to his contacted in order to facilitate office have been resolved within the 60 changes within the workplace. day window recommended by federal Health & Counseling as well as a guidelines, some cases do run long. contracted advocate are available Currently, the oldest cases for mental and emotional support. under investigation by the office In some cases with sufficient were opened in April 2015. evidence, an accused party may be banned from campus or have limited A look at Title IX process access. In the event that they’re allowed The overall goal of a Title back on campus, it falls to the dean of IX investigation is to determine students to inform the complainant. whether or not a violation has occurred, Calderara said. Dean of Students There are broader definitions recommendations under Title IX than under state If, after investigation, the Title Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, brought authentic Indian cusine, live performers and a law and investigations need only IX office finds that a violation has community together on campus in the Wood Center Ballroom on Nov. 5. determine that a violation has likely occurred, the findings are passed to the See more: “Diwali,” pg. 5 taken place in order to move forward, dean of students. Their office reviews as opposed to criminal proceedings the findings and determines whether where a suspect must be found minor sanctions or major sanctions guilty beyond reasonable doubt. (such as suspension or expulsion) Johnsen reduces tuition When a complaintant approaches are warranted. Major sanctions can the Title IX office for aid, it is up only be enacted by the chancellor. to them whether their complaint is Last year, in providing data for a investigated, with four exceptions — federal audit of UA’s Title IX program, hike to assuage students cases involving a weapon, that match it was found that major sanctions Josh Hartman next fiscal year, according to the a pattern of behavior, that involve were not enacted in cases investigated Staff Writer Regent’s Budget Work Session a minor, or that involve a group of at UAF from 2011 through 2015. document. The three scenarios are instigators. If a report has any of those Since then, administrators say, The tuition hike proposed for dependent on the amount of funding aspects, the Title IX office may have changes have been made to make next fall will only increase rates by 5 the state gives to the universities. to investigate, according to Calderara. sure those sanctions are carried out. percent, down from the 10 percent The goal of the first plan, Investigations into reported Results of the federal investigation rise proposed earlier this year. This “Investing in Alaska’s Future,” is to violations begin with complaintant have not yet been released. hike, which would apply starting expand the university to more people, and respondent interviews. Depending fall semester, will be proposed to the however, it requires that the universities on whether or not the complaintant Taking action Board of Regents at their meeting this get $341.2 million from the state. reported to the police, a criminal Following the dean of student’s weekend by UA President Johnsen. This year UA received $325 million. investigation may also take place. review, a recommendation of According to Johnsen, the hike was The second plan, called “Current sanctions is made to the chancellor reduced in response to student worries state,” assumes that the universities What happens with police and both the complainant and the about the affordability of college. will receive $335 million from the state investigation? respondent are given the chance “We are really working hard in the 2017-2018 school year and will Information collected as part of to participate in an appeal process, to keep the tuition increases receive less funds in the following years. police investigations is turned over to although the chancellor still has final reasonable,” Johnson said. “We’re The last plan, called “Governor’s the Title IX office, but results gathered say on any actions that the university the most affordable university Guidance For FY18,” is assuming from the Title IX investigation are may take, according to McCullough. system in the United States that the UA system only receives $293 not shared with police, according Major sanctions work system- right now according to a major million for the 2017-2018 school year, to Police Chief Steve Goetz. wide; if a student is suspended national study recently released.” . as proposed by Governor Bill Walker. Results of police investigation are or expelled from UAF, they may Most students would support a “[The last plan] would forwarded to the district attorney’s not apply to any other university tuition increase of between three require immediate high impact office in order to receive an external within the UA system, including and seven percent, according to program cuts, elimination,” opinion on investigation results. rural campuses, McCullough said. ASUAF President Colby Freel. reads the work session document. “We want an independent Johnsen also worked with the person to look at the case that we Continued “Tuition” pg. 2 Continued “Title IX” pg. 3 Board of Regents to establish investigated,” Goetz said. “We want three budgetary scenarios for the that fair and unbiased judgement.” School of Education faces restructure Erin Granger “Classes and programs will continue teachers and education leaders, and Colleges and Universities, which Staff Writer to be offered on all three campuses a greater accountability to meeting separately accredits UAA, UAF by faculty at those locations.” those needs,” Johnsen wrote. “Other and UAS, according to Johnsen. A single UA school of education, This proposal is a result of a key reasons include the importance Johnsen plans to put together a headquartered at UAF, will be recent review of the UA’s teacher of increasing consistency in the team to plan and execute this program proposed by UA President Jim delivery system as part of Strategic degree and endorsement programs, change, chaired by Dan White, UA Johnsen at the upcoming Board Pathways and there are several reasons supporting more faculty collaboration vice president for academic affairs of Regents meeting this weekend. behind that choice, Johnsen said. and innovation, and increasing and research, and supplemented The proposal, which was The focus of this program will productivity and cost effectiveness.” with education faculty from each developed as part of Johnsen’s be to increase enrollment, ensure This plan for the school of campus, the Faculty Alliance, the Strategic Pathways cost-saving participation in and completion education is loosely based off of the deans of education, the Alaska effort, was announced by of education degrees and the UA’s current approach to the nursing Department of Early Education and Johnsen in an email sent Nov. 4. retention of those students for program, with the headquarters Development, the National Education “While UAF would become Alaskan teaching jobs following based at UAA but supplementary Association-Alaska and the Alaska the administrative home for the graduation, Johnsen said. programs offered at UAF and UAS. Council of School Administrator. College of Education, it would “[Among those reasons are] the If this proposal is approved by the The Board of Regents meetings build on the programs currently need for a sharper focus on the state’s regents, it will then need to be approved held Nov. 10 and 11 will be being delivered by UAF, UAA and needs for more Alaska-prepared by the Northwest Commission on open to the public for comment. UAS,” Johnsen wrote in the email. Tweet us! @ uafsunstar Like us on Facebook! 2 The Sun Star November 8, 2016 www.uafsunstar.com NEWS The public safety report is compiled from police blotter information and interviews with UAF police officers. Individuals named as arrested and / or charged with crimes in this report are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. View full blotter at www.uafsunstar.com. Ben Ellis An officer responded and talked to a Additional charges are pending. Web Editor man who was potentially involved in Suspicious Circumstances the fight. He denied a fight occurred, Minor Consuming Assault despite his injuries. An ambulance 10/27/2016 12:37 p.m. - An arrived on the scene and transported 10/29/2016 1:17 a.m. - The envelope with a strange address 10/29/2016 11:59 p.m. - A shot him to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital.